Dallas Mavericks Blog

Poor ballhandling and rebounding costing the Mavericks, who need to avoid the “hero play”

Two of the most important statistics in basketball are turnovers and rebounding.

The Mavericks have had too many of the former and not enough of the latter. And their success or failure on the scoreboard is directly impacted by both.

The Mavericks’ starting backcourt, Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo, combined for 19 turnovers in the two-game losing streak on the road last week. The Mavericks had 39 turnovers as a team.

They also got outrebounded badly by Charlotte in the back half of the two-game trip.

“For us, it’s about hard play and taking care of the ball and making sure we rebound,’’ coach Rick Carlisle said today after an extended shootaround that was more like a full-fledged practice. “The rebounding is a massive stat because every one you don’t get and they get is one less chance you have and one more chance they have. So it’s almost like multiplying it by two.

“I like our team. I like our talent. But we don’t have the kind of talent to win on talent alone. That’s pretty obvious. We’ve got to do it with grit and guts and we didn’t show enough of that down the stretch of the Charlotte game.’’

In the Mavericks’ four victories, they have averaged just a fraction less rebounds than their opponent. The deficit is three boards in four wins.

In their three losses, they are getting outrebounded by eight per game.

If turnovers are your thing, they are averaging just 13.8 miscues in the four wins and 18.3 in the three losses.

Clearly those two statistics are critical. Mayo said holding onto the ball is something that should come with players being willing to share it and not try to do things individually.

“Keep it simple,’’ he said. “Maybe we’re trying to do too much. A lot of us are taking it on our own to make a play. We got to keep it simple. Slow and simple instead of each of us trying to make a hero play.’’

The Mavericks’ shooting also has gone south during the skid. But that doesn’t bother Carlisle near as much as the team’s failure to make the hustle plays.

“Did you really think we were going to shoot 60 percent for the year?’’ he asked. “On those nights, when the shooting drops off a little, your defense and rebounding are going to hold you in games. As simple as that. And the ability to take care of the ball.

“When you don’t do that, it has an exponential negative effect on your entire game. I’m not into bellyaching about missed shots. I don’t think that’s what this game is about. It’s about being consistent at the defensive end to give you really strong leverage and inertia into your offense.

“If you’re going to be a team that gets de-energized by missed shots, you’re going to suck. You’re not going to be a good team.’’